Electric regulation



J. L. CREVELING.

ELECTRIC REGULATION. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I916. RENEWED MAY 12. 1921.

1,419,493. Patented June 13, 1922.

"L INVENTOR i a' citizen UNITED STATES PATENT, orrics.

IOU L. CB-EYELING, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK. ASSTGNOB TO GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC REGULATION.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 13, 1922.

Application ma Iarch a, 1916, Serial No. 82,824. Renewed Kay 12, 1921. Serial 1%. 469,033.

T o all-whom ii -may concern Be it kIltEWn that I. JOHN L. CRnvELnvc, the United States. residing in \Vhite Plains, countv of 'estchester. and

State of New York: have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric- Regulation, of which the following is a description. Y

My invention pertains to that class of electric regulation wherein it is desired to regulate a controllable source of electrical potential difference. and has for'its particular object to automatically control said source in a predetermined manner so as to properly cooperate with a storage battery or accumulator which may be used in conjunction therewith to supply translating devices.

My invention is particularly applicable to the .art of lighting railway cars by power derived from the motion of the train and wherein. of course, the generator is subjected to wide fluctuations in speed and wherein the translating devices must be held atsubstantially constantvoltage throughout such fluctuations and supplied by the battery when the generator is not running. obvious that in such systems it is usually necessary to provide means for compensating for reversal in direction of the train. but as any specific means for this is not a part of my presentinventlon. all such devices are purposely omitted, for the sake of simplicity.

In the drawing. 1 represents the commutator of a generator, the positive brush 2 of which is connected as by lead3 with the posit'ive side of the storage battery 4, the negative of which is connected as by lead 5 with the lead 6 in connection with one end of cthe solenoid 7, the opposite terminal of which is connected with the automatic switch 8. having -its opposite terminal connected as by lead 9 with theinegative brush 10. The lead 5 is also connected with thenegative side of the lamps or other translatingdevices indicated at 11, the positive terminals of which are connected as by lead 12 with one sideof any suitable translation circuit regulating device indicated as an It is purpose in an upward direction by adjustable spring 18 tending to bring the said lever into contact with the adjustable stop 19. in which position the brush 15 has its central line in the same plane with the central line of the brush 2 while 20 represents any form of suitable electrical contacting device which may be used to come into contact with the lead 3 when the brush 15 is in this position, and thus electrically unite the leads 3 and 1t and short circuit the path connecting said leads through the brushes for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. 21 is a core of magnetic material surrounded by a solenoid 22 which when energized tends to draw the core 21 downwardly against the action of spring 18 and cause the brush 15 to be swung toward the brush 10, while the limit of-movement that can be given the said of which is connected as by wire 28 with the lead 14. The resistanceof carbon pile 27 is controlled by the lever. 29, forming a bell crank lever with member 30, whic .member is normally drawn in an n ward direction by adjustable spring 31. while its movement in said direction may be limited as by adjustable screw 32 The lever 30 ca-rries at one extremity the core 33," surrounded by a solenoid 34, which when energized tends to move the said core downwardly, while too sudden movement is resisted .by thedash pot 35. One 'end of solenoid 34 isconnected y l with the lead 14. as by wire.36. while the remaining end is connected as by wire 37 with the lead 9. 38 is one limb of a lever pivoted at 41. and provided with the limb and normally swung in a clockwise direction by the adjustable spring 40, while its limit of such revolution may be adjusted by the screw or stop 39. The limb 38 engages one end of the carbon pile 27 and tends to compress the same against the lever 29. The limb 12 engages one end of the carbon-pile 43, the opposite end of which is engaged'by the lever 44, which with the limb 45 forms a bell crank lever, the limb 45 of which is.

normally drawn in an upward direction by the adjustable spring 46 tending to compress the pile 43, while the movement given to the bell crank lever 4445 by spring 46 may be limited by the adjustable screw or stop 47. 48 is a core of magnetic mater al, carried by the limb 45, and so disposed with regards the solenoid 7 that energization of said solenoid tendsto draw the core 48 downwardly against the action of spring 46 to reduce the pressure upon the carbon pile 43, as will'hereinafter more plainly appear. 49 is a dashpot, preventing too sudden movement of the core 48. 50 is the field energizing coil of the generator, in this instance indicated as a plain shunt coil con nected with the lead 14 as by wire 51. and

with one end of the carbon pile 43, as by wire 52, the opposite end of said carbon pile being connected with the lead 9 through wires 53 and 37.

An operation ofmy invention is substantially as follows:

If the generator be at rest. the main switch 8 will be open, as shown in the drawing, it being understood that the switch, having its presence merely indicated at 8, may be any of the well known types of automatic switch adapted to close the circuit when the voltage of the generator is substantially equal to that of the battery, and to open the same when the battery tends to back discharge through the generator. Under these conditions the lamps or other. translating devices 11 may be fed by the storage battery 4, as follows:

Current from the battery will flow through lead 3 to brush 2, thence (if the brushes be in the positions shown in the drawing) through a portion of the. commutator 1 and its connecting windings to brush 15, thence through lead 14, regulator 13 and lead 12 to the lamps 11, from which return is made through the lead 5. It will be obvious that it is desirable, under'these-conditions, that little current will be forced to traverse the commutator and armature, and I therefore so adjust the spring 18. the spring 31 and carbon pile 27 that if the generator voltage be substantially equal to or below that desired upon the translating devices, the spring 31 will hold the lever 30 against the stop 32, and the spring 40 will hold the lever 38 against the stop 39. and carbon pile 27 will have sufficient resistance that the cur rent flowing through the coil 22 in series with the said pile will not be suflicient to overcome the spring 18, which will. then swing the brush 15 in a counter-clockwise direction and bring the lever 17 to its stop 19, whereupon the brush 15. and brush 2 will have their axes in the same plane, and the lead 14 will be electrically connected with the lead 3, by means of the device indicated at 20. And this is, of course, the position of brush 1:") when the generator is running at low speed or stationary. If the battery voltage be above that desired on the translating devices 11, the automatic regulator 13 will introduce a drop in the well known manner and cause the proper potential to he applied across the translating devices. It. now, the generator be started up. (it being remembered that brushes 2 and 15 are still considered with their axes in the same plane) when the voltage of the generator is substantially equal to that of the storage battery. the switch 8 will close and then a further increase in speed of the generator will tend to supply current to the lamps or translating devices and to the storage battery 4. return from both of which will be made through the lead 5, lead 6. solenoid 7 and switch 8 and lead 9 to the negative brush 10. This current will all traverse the solenoid 7, and I so adjust the spring 46 that in case at any time the current in this circuit be so great as to endanger the dynamo or tend to exceed any desired maximum. the coil 7 will causethe core 48 to be lowered against the action of spring 46 and. through the bell-crank lever 45-44. reduce the pressure upon the carbon pile 43 and increase its resistance, in such manner as to cut down the field excitation of the coil 50 and prevent the generator from delivering a current in excess of this predetermined maximum or protective value. The current flowing to the storage battery through the lead 3 to the lead 5, and the current flowing to the translating devices through the lead 14. regulator 13 and lead 12 to the lead 5. will. when the brushes 2 and 15 have their axes in the same plane, be of equal voltages at the enerator. It is of course necessary, as well nown in the art, to impress upon a storage battery a higher voltage. in order to charge the same, than is impressed upon a circuit supplied by the said battery. And when the voltage of the generator tends to increase with ltS speed appreciably above that desired for the translation circuit voltage. the current flowing through the voltage coil 34. from the lead 14 to the lead 9. will tend to swing the lever 30 downwardly against the action of spring 31, and, compress the pile 27 so as to strengthen the coil 22. in such manner as to swing the brush 15 in a clockwise direction. And I so adjust the spring 31 and other instrumentalities cooperating with the voltage coil 34 that the said coil 34 will, as the generator speed increases, hold approximately the desired voltage across its circuit by, first, compressing the carbon pile 27 as the s eed increases, and then, upon further ten en'cy of the voltage to increase. by swinging lever 38-42 about the pivot 41, against the action of spring 40, so as to lessen the pressure upon the carbon pile 43 the and decrease the currentin the field exciting coil 50, which may hold the generator volt-' fect of the coil 34 in causing the brush 15 to be swung in the clockwise direction, as described. will cause a dili'erence in potential between brush 2 and brush 15. which is that difference desired to have applied upon the battery charging circuit in ext-em of thatupon the translating circuit. or suhstaI 1- .tiallv such value. Therefore. the battery is char d at a higher voltage than is supplied to t e work circuit, notwithstanding the regulation of the generator is accomplished by regulatin I the voltage across the work circuit, and te generator is at all times protected from over-load through the instrumentality of the solenoid 7 and its cooperating mechanism. as previously described. If

nerator slows down and stops, substantially the reverse of the above outlined operation will take place. Howeveuif the generator has been running for considerable time. and the battery charged until it iscapable of delivering current to line at a voltage uite in excess of that desired upon the trans ating devices. the translating voltage will be held constant by the regulator 13. while during the slowing down process solenoid 34 may be made to cause the current in the coil 22 to be sufficient that there will be a. displacement of the brushes 2 and 15 with regard to each other. causing a back voltage tending to oppose the battery voltage and supply the proper voltage to line.

It will be noted that the translating circuit regulator 13 will operate to cause a consid erable drop only when the battery is supplying the circuit, and this when at a voltage in excess, of that desired upon the transla tion devices. Of course, the regulator l3 will cause a loss in energy, but this is only for a short period, as the voltage of the battery quickly drops to its normal voltage when carrying a load.

It will be noted in the above that I have shown the current coil 7 in series with the generator, and therefore determining 'the maximum generator output that can be ,at-

tained. It is, however, Within the scope ofmy invention to'put this coil in the battery circuit; whereupon a charging current value cannot be exceeded, if desired to so place the said coil, or in any othercircuit wherein it is desired to limit the current'value, or it is within my invention tosuppress this coil entirely and depend upon any other means of protection, or currentlimiting, if such be desired, as my invention comprehends broadly any means whereby a storage 'bat tery generator and translating devices are employed together, and wherein the generator' charges the battery and supplies the translating devices delivering different volt .of devices, or modes of operation above spe'cified'to show concrete cases merely embodying the essentials of my invention, which is as set forth in the following claims:

LitIeans for operating storage batteries and translating devices in, 000 ration with a controllable source of electrical potential difference comprehending means for charging a storage battery and operating translating devices from said source at different values. of electrical potential difference derived therefrom, and means for controlling said source capable. of acting entirely in responseto fluctuations tending to take place in the translating circuit.

2. Means for operating storage batteries and translating devices in cooperation with a controllable source of electrical potential difference, comprehending means for charging a storage battery and operating translating devicesfrom said source at different values of electrical potential difference derived therefrom, and automatic means for.

controlling said source capable of acting entirely in response to fluctuations tending to take lace in the translating circuit.

3. eans for operating storage batteries and translating devices in cooperation with a c ontrollable source of electrical potentialv difl'erence comprehending means for charging a storage battery and operating translating devices from said source atdifferent values of electrical potential difference derived therefrom, and automatic means for controlling said source under predetermined conditions entirely in response to fluctuations in electrical potential difference tending to take place in the translating circuit.

.4. Means for operating storagebatteries and translating devices in cooperation with a controllable source of electrical potential difference comprehending means for charging a storage battery and operating transgenerator upon said battery and said translating circuit, and automatic means for controlling both said values under predetermined conditions in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the translating circuit independently of generator output.

6. The combination with a generator, a storage battery and translating circuit, of means for imposing different values of electric potential difference derived from said enerator upon said battery and said trans ating circuit, and automatic means for controlling both said values and the difference therebetween in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the translating circuit.

7. The combination with a generator a storage battery and translating circuit, of means for imposing different values of electric potential difference derived from said enerator upon said battery and said transiting circuit, and automatic means for controlling both said values under predetermined conditions in response to electrical fluctuations tending to take place at said generator independently of battery charging current.

8. The combination with a generator, a storage battery and translating circuit, of means for imposing different values of electric potential difference derived from said generator upon said battery and said translating circuit, and automatic means for controlling both said values and the difference therebetween in response to electrical fluctuations tending to take place at said generator.

9. The combination with a generator, a storage battery and translating circuit, of means for imposing different values of electric potential difference derived from said generator upon said battery and said transating circuit, automatic means for controlling under predetermined conditions both said values entirely in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the translating circuit, and automatic means for limiting the generator current.

10. The combination with a generator, a storage battery and translating circuit, of means for imposing different values of electric potential difference derived from said generator upon said battery and said translating circuit, automatic means for controlling both said values in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the translating circuit, and normally inoperative automatic means for affecting the generator in response to current fluctuations above a predetermined value, a

11. The combination with a generator, a storage battery and translating circuit, of means for imposing different values of electric potential difference derived from said generator upon said battery and said translating circuit, automatic means for controlling both said values in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the translating circuit, and normall inoperative automatic means for effecting t e generator in response to current fluctuations above a predetermined value in an otherwise useful circuit supplied thereby.

12. The combination with a storage battery, translating devices and a controllable source of potential difference tending to vary, of means for supplying current to the battery and translating devices at different values of potential difference from said source, means for controlling the said source in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the value of the lower potential difference, and electricall operated means for varying the value of tfie difference between the said potential differences.

13. The combination with a storage battery, translating devices and a controllable source of potential difference tending to vary, of means for supplying current to the battery and translating devices at different values of potential difference from said source, means for controlling the said source in response to fluctuations tending to take place in the value of the lower potential difference, and automatic means for varying the value of the difference between the said potential differences.

14. The combination with a storage battery,translating devices and a controllable source of potential difference tending to vary, of means for supplying current to the battery and translating devices at different values of potential difference from said source, means for controlling the said source in response to fluctuations tending to take 7 place in the value of the lower potential difference, and automatic means for varying the value of the difference between the said potential differences in response to variations in value of the lower potential difference.

J OHN, L. CREVELIN G. 

